Harold E. ADKISSON

ADKISSON, HOLBROOK, ELLISON, BUCK, SIRON, ASH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/18/2009 at 18:11:37

OBITUARY.

DOWNS - Harold E. ADKISSON, 87, Downs, formerly of Mount Ayr, Iowa, passed away at 6:10 a.m. Monday [Dec. 15, 2008] at his home in Downs.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, LeRoy, with the Rev. Ron GEORGE officiating. Burial will be at Hopewell Cemetery, Downs. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Mr. ADKISSON was born March 26, 1921, at Sioux City, Iowa, son of Fred E. and Elsie J. HOLBROOK ADKISSON. He married Marjorie Lois ELLISON on May 25, 1940, in Grant City, Mo. She survives in Downs.

Also surviving are three sons, Edward L. ADKISSON, Decatur City, Iowa; Kenneth R. (Dorothy) ADKISSON, Downs; and Gary D. (Donna) ADKISSON, Downs; one daughter, Judy ADKISSON, Springfield; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Eldon (Donna) ADKISSON, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and one sister, Clara Jean BUCK, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and two brothers.

Harold developed an interest in airplanes at a young age. As a small boy, he saw Charles LINDBERG land and give a speech in Sioux City, Iowa. During World War II, he supported the war effort by working on B-52 bombers for three years at the North American Bomber Plant in Kansas City, Mo. He was again honored with meeting LINDBERG as he toured the plant.

After the war, he worked as a lineman for 10 years. He helped build some of the first power lines to many towns and farms in many states.

Harold and his brother, Fred, went into business together building government bins and other grain handling equipment. One of their jobs took them to North Dakota, where they met the Lawrence WELK family. In 1960, Harold developed a business relationship with Lynn SIRON of Siron Sales and Service on Route 9. Between the two of them, they sold and built grain storage and equipment in almost every small town in Central Illinois.

During this period, he moved from Bloomington to Downs, where he lived and operated his business until his retirement. He then followed his dreams and relocated to Iowa, where he owned a small farm.

Harold lived out his dream until ill health forced him and his wife of 68 years to relocate to Downs, where he and his wife have resided for the last year and a half.

Harold was a certified pilot and loved to talk about his planes and flying. He took his flying lessons, and flew out of the Logan County Airport for many years. He started flying at age 50 and last flew at the age of 85.

Harold's family would like to give a special thanks to all the people at OSF Hospice, and a special friend, Cheryl ASH.